Candidate Profile: Robert Kobleska For Greendale School Board

GREENDALE, WI— The 2022 election is heating up in Wisconsin and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office. Voters will decide the outcome of state representative and senate seats, plus local government and school boards.

Patch asked the candidates for the Greendale School Board, which will have a primary vote on Feb. 15, to answer questions about their campaigns.

Robert Kobleska

Age (as of Election Day)

37

Position sought (including ward or district number if applicable)

Greendale School Board

Party Affiliation

Republican

Family

Janelle (Wife) Maia (17) Anna (5) I also have two nephews who will be attending or are attending GSD. Ezra (7) and Beckett (4)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Bachelor's in Criminal Justice and a Master's Degree in Admin of Justice and Security

Occupation

VP of Noble Backgrounds, a division of the Noble Group. 5 years. The Noble Group is a group of companies (Diagnostics, Medical, Background, and Noble Six) that protect and safeguard people in today's uncertain and unpredictable world with the latest in medical screening, background intelligence, and life saving tactical planning and survival training.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

rob4greendalesb.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I want to be an advocate for my children and nephews who are attending or will attend GSD. I also want to bring the concerns and voices of all community members to the table.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Academic excellence and achievement is at the top of my list. Greendale hasn’t had stability in the district because we’ve had a revolving door in the Superintendent’s Office for a number of reasons. We are now blessed to have Kim Amidzich and unfortunately, she has been dealt a losing hand since she started. She followed controversy and then had to navigate the GSD through a global pandemic. She also inherited a steady decline in academics, specifically ELA (English language arts) and Math. I believe she’s the right person for this job and will raise the bar on academic achievement in the district.

Another issue I see is transparency between the board and parents/tax payers. Too often I have heard from parents and residents (who had or never had kids in the district) that they have reached out to the School Board and never heard back from them. If elected, I view the parents/residents of Greendale as my boss. I serve them and I owe it to them to get back to them and explain my reasoning or the boards reasoning on issues. Having more dialogue with the residents will also allow me to be a better board member and I feel that more issues can be tackled.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I hesitate to criticize sitting school board members in writing as I look forward to working with them in the future. I will say that I was disappointed with their initial vote on requiring masks for grade school kids but I am pleased that they reconsidered and are now allowing parents to choose what is best for their kids.

As for other candidates, the three GEA “preferred candidates” are on record stating that kids should be in masks. Two out of the three have spoken at a number of School Board meetings demanding kids be masked. I have always and always will be a champion for parent’s choice and I have spoken to a number of parents who want the choice on whether their kids wear a mask in school. Other school districts in the area have stayed open without mask requirements and I am confident we will mirror those districts.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

Two things stand out to me. The failure to understand that each child is different and learns differently. It’s impossible for any board member to be familiar with every kid/parent, but parents know their kid best and also what is best for them. I understand the concerns regarding COVID and support anyone’s decision to do what’s best for them and their children but the current board should’ve given the parents the choice to make a healthcare decision for their child.

Secondly, the insurrection at the School Board meeting on 10/25 was an embarrassment for this community. It never should’ve happened. The meeting should’ve been called off immediately and done virtually at a safer location or it should’ve been rescheduled at a later date. This was a blight on our community and something that will not be forgotten.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I know that we live in a "real world," not a "theoretical" one. I understand that our children need reasoning and critical thinking skills that will allow them to not only succeed in higher educational pursuits, but ultimately in a competitive professional environment; and it all starts with "foundational" learning. I also believe that all opinions should be heard, but that ultimately, decisions must be made in the "best interest" of the children, not adults' political and or activist ideologies. It's completely about the students and the quality of education that they are receiving.

We need to put less of a focus on bringing political and progressive ideologies into the classroom and getting back to teaching kids how to think and not what to think. When I use the term “how to think,” I am primarily speaking of critical reasoning. We can teach our children the facts of history, the facts of the natural world, the facts of society and of science, but we should never forget that what we’re really tasked to do is ENABLE them to forge their path in this world…and to compete.

When our children leave the GSD, they should be imminently prepared to recognize patterns, ask pertinent questions, reason through problems, and recognize fact from opinion. So, when you hear me use the term teach them “how to think,” I’m merely using that as a blanket phrase to cover all the major thought disciplines that will allow GSD students to compete on a local, regional and a global level.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I am the VP of my company and have completed a educational pursuits such as my Bachelor's, Mater's, and even graduated from the Police Academy.

I am also active in the community as a TwiNite coach, I am VP of the Library Board, and have volunteered my time in this community at events like Village Days.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Treat everyone the way you want to be treated and that life isn't fair.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

One of the best decisions I ever made was listening to my wife and moving to Greendale. She grew up here and I now understand why the Village is so special. It would truly be an honor to serve on the School Board and represent the amazing parents, residents, and children who live here.